Microfiche duplicator

ABSTRACT

A microfiche duplicator adapted to make single or multiple copies of an original microfiche sheet using roll or sheet supply diazo or vesicular films, with the former developed by the use of either an aqueous or anhydrous developing agent, and providing automatic registration, handling and separation of original and copy sheets in which the original microfiche as well as copies thereof are conveniently returned to the front of the apparatus.

[ 1 Sept. 17, 1974 United States Patent Touchette et al.

[ MICROFICHE DUPLICATOR Kawarabgyashi et al. 355/102 X S a m m wT h& n 0 MC 3 B m cm i AH r we .mz mm Z E, W m mm PA t S e m n w m m e muu e hH c. wL P Tkf tm mNmC n r WMm m nu... bfi tSgP u n b 0 hD-C ASSS g r e m m m .w v M h A Q 3 7 7 .l l

County, Pa.

ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1973 A microfiche duplicator adapted to make single or pp N04 339,284 multiple copies of an original microfiche sheet using roll or sheet supply diazo or vesicular films, with the 52 U.S. 355/100, 355/97, 355 99 former developed y the e of either an aqueous or 51] Int. Cl. G03b 27/30 anhydrous developing agent, and provlding automatic [58] Field of 355/7s-103 registratiom'handling and Separation of Original and copy sheets in which the original microfiche as well as 5 R f e Cited copies thereof are conveniently returned to the front UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 the apparatus 1,413,406 Huebner...........,................... 355/78 25 Claims, 32 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU 1 75974 3.836.252

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PATENTEUSEPI mu sum 07 [1F 23 PAIENIED 1 SHEET 11 UP 23 FIG [4 3.836.252 sum 13 UP 23 PMENIEB 71974 Q m HHMQ .H H M PAIENIEB 71974 sum 1n 0F 23 PAKNTED E 71974 3.836.252

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1. A microfiche duplicator comprising a frame, a copyboard movable on said frame between loading and exposing stations and supporting an original film sheet and a copy sheet in superposed relationship, register means coupled with said copyboard and responsive to movement of said copyboard to said exposing station for registering said copy sheet with said original sheet, means mounted on said frame at said exposure station to expose said copy sheet through said original sheet, developing means for said exposed copy sheet, and means separating said exposed copy sheet from said original sheet and transporting the same to said developing means.
 2. The invention as recited in claim 1, further including clearing means selectively actuable to clear the unexposed areas of a developed vesicular copy sheet, and wherein said developing means includes means operative in first and second modes for developing diazo and vesicular copies, respectively.
 3. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said developing means includes a closed chamber having sealed inlet and outlet openings accepting said copy sheet for passage therethrough, first means heating said chamber to a first elevated temperature and supplying ammonia and water vapor to the interior thereof, second means heating said chamber to a second elevated temperature greater than said first elevated temperature, and selector means having first and second modes for activating said first and second means, respectively.
 4. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the speed of movement of said copyboard through said exposure station is adjustable to control the degree of exposure of said copy sheet through said original sheet.
 5. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said copyboard is linearly movable on said frame.
 6. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said register means includes first and second stop means disposed on first and second opposite sides of said copyboard and movable relative to each other in response to movement of said copyboard.
 7. The invention as recited in claim 6, wherein said register means further includes third and fourth stop means disposed on third and fourth opposite sides of said copyboard and movable relative to each other.
 8. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said exposure means includes a source of ultraviolet radiation and roller means mounted in superposition thereof, and wherein said copyboard includes an ultraviolet transmissive plate supporting said original and copy sheets and movable between said roller means and said ultraviolet source whereby said original and copy sheets are held against each other and said transmissive plate by said roller means as said copyboard moves past said ultraviolet source.
 9. The invention as recited in claim 8, further including hold-down means responsive to engagement of said copyboard with said roller means for holding said copy sheet against said original sheet as said copyboard moves toward said exposing station.
 10. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said developing means includes a generally U-shaped closed chamber having the legs thereof disposed in horizontal superposition on said frame, said chamber having sealed opening means on the end of each said leg adapted to pass said copy sheet therethrough, the upper leg of said chamber being disposed adjacent said exposing station for receiving an exposed copy sheet.
 11. The invention as recited in claim 10, further including conveyor means disposed on said frame below said exposure station and adjacent the lower leg of said chamber for transporting said developed copy sheet from said developing means to a receptacle under said loading station.
 12. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein said exposing means includes a source of ultraviolet radiation mounted on said frame below the path of travel of said copyboard and above said conveyor means and further includes reflector means under said ultraviolet source, said reflector means movable between a closed position shielding said conveyor means from exposure to said ultraviolet radiation and an open position exposing said conveyor means to said ultraviolet radiation whereby a developed copy sheet of vesicular film may be cleared as it is transported beneath said ultraviolet source on said conveyor means.
 13. The invention as recited in claim 10, wherein said developing means includes first and second continuous conveyor belts each traversing a generally U-shaped path with said second conveyor belt nested within the first and carrying therebetween said copy sheet from the open end of said upper leg to the open end of said lower leg, said first conveyor belt being dimensionally stable with respect to heat and saiD second conveyor belt being porous.
 14. The invention as recited in claim 13, wherein said first conveyor belt is constructed of rubber impregnated fiberglass and said second conveyor belt is constructed of cotton.
 15. The invention as recited in claim 10, wherein said developing means further includes a developing-agent receiving tray in the floor of said chamber.
 16. The invention as recited in claim 15, wherein said developing means further includes liquid supply means connected with said developing-agent receiving tray to supply a metered amount of liquid thereto.
 17. The invention as recited in claim 16, wherein said liquid supply means includes a liquid container, a flexible tube connecting said container with said developing-agent receiving tray and having a portion thereof aligned vertically, and fluid control means sequentially closing said vertical portion of said flexible tube at first and second spaced points therealong.
 18. The invention as recited in claim 17, wherein said container contains aqueous ammonia, and wherein said liquid supply means includes means venting said container interiorly of said developing chamber.
 19. The invention as recited in claim 17, wherein said container contains water, and wherein said developing means further includes a source of anhydrous ammonia communicating interiorly of said developing chamber at said developing-agent receiving tray.
 20. The invention as recited in claim 10, wherein said developing chamber contains a first heating element maintaining the interior of said chamber at a substantially uniform temperature above room temperature, a second heating element disposed within the upper leg of said chamber maintaining the interior of said upper leg at a temperature above that provided by said first heating element, and a third heating element disposed in a developer-agent receiving tray in the floor of said chamber.
 21. The invention as recited in claim 1, further including film supply means on said frame laterally adjacent said copyboard for feeding a preselected length of copy film over said copyboard and cutting the same whereby said cut sheet of copy film falls onto said copyboard in approximate registration with said original sheet.
 22. The invention as recited in claim 21, wherein said film supply means includes a roll of copy film, roller menas capturing the end of said film roll, and drive means imparting rotary motion to said roller means to advance said end of said film roll a preselected amount.
 23. The invention as recited in claim 22, wherein said drive means includes a drive wheel operatively connected with said roller means and rotating the same to impart said preselected film advance upon completion of a single revolution of said drive wheel.
 24. The invention as recited in claim 23, wherein said film supply means includes a cutting assembly, and wherein said drive means further includes a cam engaging said cutting assembly to cut said advancing end of said film roll after said preselected length has been advanced from said roll.
 25. The invention as recited in claim 1, including means for cooling said copyboard and said exposing means. 